Apparatus for elevating



'(No Model.) 7 3 ShetS-Sheet 1 V S. D. MURRAY. APPARATUS FOR ELEVATING, DISTRIBUTING; AND FEEDINGSEED COTTON T0 GINS.

No.472-,'607-. v PatentedApr. 12,1892.

%% v diga/eeflvflzqrragy (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

S. D. MURRAY. APPARATUS FOR ELEVATING, DISTRIBUTING, AND FEEDING SEED COTTON TO GINS.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

SUB. MURRAY. ,1

APPARATUS FOR ELYEVATING, DISTRIBUTING, AND FEEDING SEED COTTON T0 G INS. A

No. 472,607. 1 i Patented Apr. 12,1892.-

,r l W UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- STEPHEN D. MURRAY, OF l,)ALLAS, TEXAS, ASS'IGNOR TO WILLIAM BURR, 32F SAME PLACE, AND JOHN H. DEEMS, I.-Lollls -MlssfillRl;

APPARATUS FOR ELE VAl'lNG, DISTRIBUTING; AND FEEDING SEED-COTTON T0 GINS'.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Batent No. 472,607, dated April 12,1892.

Application filed Hay Z9, 1891. erinl No. 394581. (Re mudelJ To alt whoop it nun/1 Irv/worn:

' llc it known that I, STEPHEN I). MURRAY,

:1 citizen of the United States, residing at;

Dnllns, inthe county of Dallas and State of 5 Texas, have inven ted new and useful improve ments in Apparatus for Elevating, Distrihut" ing, and Feeding Seed-(lottou to (tins, of which the following is n Specification.

This invention relates to certain new and in useful improvements, in machines or apparatus for elevating, distributing, and feeding seed-cotton togins; and it consists, substantiully,-in such features of arrangement, construction, and combination of parts as will :5 hereinafter be more fully described and claimed,

The invention has for its object to provide a machine or apparatus which shall ennhle seed-coiton to heelevntcd, distributed, and

:0 fed directly to two or more gins at the same time without great] y increasing the consumption of power beyondthnt required for performing the same work 'in connection with a single gin.

Jlhe invention one for its further object to provide a. machine or apparatus of the character referred to, which-can be adapted to an y ordinary gin or gins or any arrangement of gins.

The invention has for its further object to enable ready accessto be had to all parts ofthe gins s'nd also to greatly economize in space over many former inventions for a. like purpose. f 7 The invention hes for its still (further objcct. to provide a-mschine. or apparatus of the character referred to which shall possess the quality of great,- dl' rabil'ity, one in which the moving parts are comparatively few and not liable to become as quickly worn as when of nmore delicate construction.

. The invention has forits still further 01. ject co-greatly reduce the quantity of innehincry usually employed to do the work of -elevoting, distributing, and feeding cotton to. gins, and thereby rendering the machine or apparatus much less expensive to build.

The invention has for its final object to provide means whereby the cotton is fed to the gins in a compressed sheet or bat, and also to provide simplified devices for nlctunt- 1 feeder.

inn and regulating the speed of the feedrolls, all substcntinllyaswiil more fully heroinafter appear when taken in connection with the'nccom pnnyin g drawings, wherein- 5 5 Figure 1 represents a longitudinal side clevzition of a cotton elevating,distributingmnd feeding machine constructed in accordance with my. invention. and Fig. 2 is a longitudiinnl sectional elevation thereof, taken about centrally through. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross,- section taken on the linear: .1: of Figs. 1 and 2', the said figure more clearly indicating the ii:- terior construction and arrangement of parts. Fig. 4.- is a similar view representing a inodification designed for elevation and distributing cotton to the ordinnrygin feeder or feeders and Fig. 5is also a similar view representing a. furthe r modification. Fig. (5 is a sectional View representingthe manner in which my im-' 7o proved feeder may be suspended beneath on opening in the door of a. gin house, the said fig: nre also showing the driving mechanism for the feed-rollers arranged at the bottom of the- Fig. 7 is a. vertical elevation of the mova-hleorhnngingfeeder,taken from onesidev thereof and showing more clearly the manner in which the feed-rollers are driven-from the saw-shaft of an ordinary gin. Fig. 8 is asimi-.

lar view taken from the-opposite side'ancl rep- 8o resenting the devices for regulating-and controlling the feed between the -rollers,the dotted lines indiating'the positioncf said regu- 'iating devices when arranged to furnish the i most'rapid of greatest extent otfeed. Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of the preferred forni of the suction-tube and. screenspzices.

. In carrying my invention-into effect 1 provide a, horizontally-arranged pipe-or tube, into which the seed-cotton is jgdrnwn 3y suctiomazfil this pipe ortube communicates withit hurt malty-arranged box or casing; which is divided up into two or more spaces, into which the cotton fails and then passes by gravity into the feeders, which are suspended benea'ththc box or casing'andwhich are in communication with said spaces. The feeders themselves are suspended t0- the bottom e cursor easily carried back at cur lime-,no us to give easy access to the gins. The particular form of feeder referred to is easily adapted to be downwardly and left open 'at 3. The underside of said pipe or tube is formed with a longitudinal opening 4, by which communication is had with the central spaces 5 of the horizontally-arranged box or casing 6, which 1 is secured to the under side of said suction pipe or tuhein anysuitable manner. Lengthwise of the said box or casing on each side is an nir-pnssage 7, which communicates with the central space 5 by wiregnuzc screens 8, and it is through these wire screens that the incoming air passes thence through the pitssages 7 out to the exhaust. It is preferable to hove the intermediate walls between the central spaces constructed fin an inclined manner, as shown in Figs; gl nnd 9, since by lhis construction the splices are given increased dimensions and the cotton is caused to be forced or fed more easily to the feeders beneath.

Attached to the open end of the suctionpipe 1 is a collapsible or extensible tube 1',

which is intended to be placed over the wagon or other receptacle which contains the ccttorr supply, the said tube being constructed of a coiled spring), which is inclosed between on inner and outer layer of flexible material, such asducking-cioth or the like. Aconnection such as the tube attords may be moved about-over the surface of the cotton in the wagon, and said tube can be readily distended or contracted to any desired pointrngith but little trouble. On reference to Fig; in will be seen that to the lower end of the said extensible tube is attached a portion 3, which is designed tobc grasped by the hand whenever it is desired to move or change the length or position of said tube. This hand portion is turned up on its lower edge, so as to form an .annular pocket for the reception of a suitable weight to hold the tube down to whatever position it may be brought. It will be evident with what once the entire flexible connection or tube can be moved about and lengthened and shortened at will, and it will also be crident that on releasing the weight from the.

lower end thereof after the cotton has been unloaded the reaction of the coilcd sp ring will collapse the tube in such manner its to carry the some up out of the way of the operator. The central spaces 5 may be arranged nny dcsired distance apart, according to the require purpose whatever.

merits, end there could be many variations in the general construction of the box cross ng, as well as in the form of the suction-pipe." For instance, instead of having the suction and exhaust at the same end of the apparatus, I might have the suction at one end and the exhaust at the other, iuwhich event I should resort to the construction of pipe and casing such as I have shown in Fig. 9. In this figure it will be seen that the spacesfi are three in number instedd of two; but. it will be understood my invention is intended to include two or more, according to the number of gins to be fed-by the apparatus.

Suspended to the bottom of the hollow box crossing and communicating with the central spaces 5 is a feeder or chute 5', constructed in. accordance with myinvcntion, and wh ch,

instead of being rigidly secured in place, is

so attached as to be capable of being moved or swung from one side to the other, thus enabling the feeder to be conveniently arranged in position over an ordinary gin-feed or over the roll-box of a girnnnd then when accessto the gin is desired the said feeder can becnsily turned backward out of the way. The said feeder 5' could be attached in many ways to admit of it being moved in the manner explained; butprefernbly I employ a. plate 10, provided with screw-holes for securing the same in place, and to this plate the feeder is attached by means of a. leather or other flexible connection 11, and in this way it will be seen that a very simple and cheap construction is obtained. In some instances, in order to lend strength to the connection, I employ suitable hinges 12, such as I have shown in the several figures of the drawings, Figs. 1 and 2.

In addition to the great advantage possessed.

by the hanging: or movable feeder it will be seen also that the same can be readily dctnchcd or removed at any time and, for any It will be observed that the two sides 13 of the feeder are somewhat extended at the bottom, and between the said sides at this point the teed-rolls 14, 15, and 16 have their hearing, as shown. .The roller 1-1 is the driven roller, and it has on one end of its shaft a pulley 17, which connects by means of a cord or chain 18 with -a similar pulley carried either bythe saw-shaft of the gin or by an upper drive-shaft 18. The opposite end of the shaft of said roller 14 is formed or provided with a smell crank 10,

which actuntes the roller 16 through the me dium of the regulating and controlling de' vices for said rollers. The roller 15 is held by the lower ends of self-adjusting springs 18, secured to the front of the feeder at the sides, the tendency of such springs being to force said roller 15 into contact; with the roller 16 :md be operated by friction therewith. in some instances I dispense with the lower roller ll, so its to enable the'cotton to pass directly from between the rollers 15 and In o the gin-breast or wall-box in a. com- KID in order to regulate the degree of turningof the rollers 15 and 10, l employ .an elbowlever 530,0ne arm of which is slotted and works upon the crank 19, as shown, the said lever being pivoted to the inner side of an upright bend-lever 21 the upper end ofwhich is pivoted tothe side of the feeder. Loosely ntinched to the upper end of'the elbow-lever 530 is at pawl 21, which tells or takes into the teeth of at small ratchet-wheel 22, fastened on the outlet the shaft-of roller 10, and also loosely held on the'smue end of said'shaft is n locking-lever 22, having therein a number of notches 23, into which theinnerend of the pin or rivet 24, which holds the elbow-lever, is designed to be received. At whnte var position these devices may be brought this lever serves to hold or look the same thereto, so as toinsure the proper degree of movement or turning of the rollers 15 and 16. From the. constrnctionof said devices it will be seen that nsthe roller 14 is being driven the crank 19 on the end thereof will impart a rocking or vibrating movement to the elbowdever, and thereby cause the pawl 21 to, take into the teeth of the ratchet-wheel 22 and move or turn the roller .16 intermittingly and to an extent corresponding to the reach ofsaid pawl. The slotted arm of the elbow-leverpormits adjustment oi the devices, so as to alter or change the degree of movement of the said rollers 15 and 16, and consequently the feeding of the cotton w'ill'be correspondingly altered or changed.

In the drawings, Fig. 8, thetull lines-represent the position of the adjusting devices when furnishing the slowest food, while the dotted lines indicate the position to which they are shifted when the most'rnpid or great estextent of feed is desired. It will of course be understood that adjustments canbe made to nnypoint between the two limits, the locking-lever 22 soon rely holding the devices in piece- In the lower part of the hanging feeder n flexible check -velve 25 is arranged, which valve, when the suction-fan 26 is put in opern'tion, is-keptclosed tight by the pressure of the external air from beneath. By means of seid valve i not enabled to obtcinthe full and eiiectlve "force of suction upon the cotton-supply, and it serves'olso tosupport the cotton until it has enquired n certain depth, whereupon-it opens and allows the cotton to fall down upon the rollers 15 and 16. This valve will be referred to hereinafter in connection with the description of the operation of the apparatus.

in the upper part of the feeder or chute 5' .is arranged a thin shcct-iroii valve 27, the

snmebeing hold or suspondgsl' by a. rod 28,

which extends through the sides of said feeder and is bent atone end into the form of a crank or handle 28, as shown. The purpose of this vnlvc is as follows: 13y observations made through a glass 29, arranged in the side of the feeder, the operator can always tell when the cotton has gotten below the va lvc 27, and just as the operator is about finishing the ginning of one lot or halo of cotton he can close said valve until the spaces 5 above the same have become filled up by the cotton of the next lot or bole, and then when the first lot is finished a. portion of the second lot is 30 ready to fall down upon the rollers 15 and 16, which it is allowed to do by opening the valve. In this way no lost time is bad in the ginning operation, which is a, great dcsiderittum in this class of apparatus.

The operation of my invention as thus for described is as follows: The open end of the box or casing 6 being connected to the tencnsing in the manner shown, the fan 26 will cause a strong suction of air up through the lower open end of the suction-pipe 1 as soon as it is started, and it is evident that any supply of seed-cotton arranged below the endof said pipe will be carried up in the mannermdicated by the arrows. As soon as the suction is started the flexible checkwalve 25becomes closed by pressure of the external air, and the cotton passing, up with the incoming air-currents is intercepted at the spaces 5 by the wire-gauze screens or walls, through which spaces it falls by gravity into the suspended feedcrs. The falling cotton will accumulate uponthe flexible valves 25 until it has acquired a vertical depth of, say, about fifteen inches, at which depth the weight of 505 the cotton begins to overcome the external .eir-pressu re on the flexible valves, and puslr inn these valves out of the way the cotton will fall down upon the rollers 15 and 16. As-

- soon as the cotton rests upon the feed-rollers I I0 15 and 16 the said rollersmay be put into operation to feed the cotton to the spiked roller 14, which latter drops it in the roll-box of the gin. When the cotton accumulates in the feeders too inst and reaches to the top of the screen-walls of the space 5, it is evident that the suction from pipe or tube 1 will be-cut off and the cotton will cease to be drawn in; but

as soon as one or more of the feeders have ted outsuflicient of the cotton to allow some no part of the screen-walls to be free or open the suction again becomes effective in the manner already explained. The purpose sud action of the vnlve in the lower part of the feeder has already been explained, and will not here be repeated.

Fig. 4 represents the employment of my invention-in supplying the cotton to an ordinary gin-feeder instead of feeding the some to the gin direct, as in the preceding figures, fund :30 Fig. 5 represents the manner of feeding the cotton to one or more stalls or bins. In this latter connection the top of each space 5 is provided with a valve or gets 30, and should llie'renminiin, spaces would be kept closed.

:lhis would prcvcnt'ihe cotton from falling into the spaces where it was desired not to have it go.

In Fig. 61 have represented my improved hanging feederassuspcnded beneath an opening 31 in the floor of a gin-house, in which instance the cotton is swept or raked i nto the the suction of an air-blast-. The air in its passage through the screen-walls rclievesthe cotton of a large percentage of dirt, which it comes off through the exhaust, as indicated by the arrows.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In apparatus for elevutingdistributing, and feeding seed-cotton to gins, the combination, with a, suction pipe or tube, of a box or casing having side air-passages and a central screened space and communicating with'said' space, substantially as described.

2. In apparatus for elevatingdistributing, a ndfeeding seed-cotton to gins, the combination, with a suction pipe or tube formed in its under side with an opening, of 'a box or casing having a central space communicating ivilh said pipe or tube and provided with side air-passages having inner screen-walls and a chute or feeder communicating with said central s ace, substantially as described.

3. n apparatus for elevatihg, distributing, and feeding seed-cotton to-gins, the combination, with a suitable opening or supply,of a hanging ormovable chute suspended beneath such openihgorsupplyand having in the betiom thereof asset of feed-rollers,substantially as described.

4-. In apparatus for elevating and distributlug seed-cotton, the combination, with a horizontal supply pipe or in be, of a hanging chute or feeder hinged at one edge to the pipe or tube .and having its remaining edges connected to said pipe or tube by flexible material, substantially as described.

5. In apparatus for elevating and distributing seed-cotton, the combination, with a suit able supply device, of a hanging chute or feeder hinged at one edge to the supply do viceand having its remainingedges connected to said supply device by flexible material and feed-rollers journaled within the lower poriion of the chute or feeder, substantially as described.

6. In apparatus for elevating, distributing,

and feeding seed-cotton to gins, the combine tion, with the suction pipe or tube 1 and the box or casing 6, of the chute or feeder suspended beneath the casing by a flexible connection, substantially as described. 7

'scri a chute or feeder- 'i. in apparatus [or elevating and diciribut- I S. In apparatus for elevating, distributing,

' ins,th e combimv and feeding seed-cotton to or, of the valves tion, with the chute or I .25 and w loontedathmin at near. thumb.

and bottom, respectively, substantially as debed. 9. In apparatus for elevating, distributing,

and fccding seed-cotton to gins, the ccmbiun ticn, with the chute or feedergol a set of icedroilcrc supported at the bottom oi said chute or-fecder and means for regulating the fend oi. said rollers, substantially as described.

10. The combination, with the rollers 1-5, 15, and iii, of causing frictional contact of the two inninnrned rollers, substantially as described.

11. The combinaiiom'with the tcedmclluru M, 15, and 16, the tormcrhaving a crank on its shaft and the latter havlhg n notchcd wheel, oi the elbowlover slotted and worl:-

ing on said crank, the pawl carried by said lever, the shifting hand-lever, and the locking-lever formed with the notches, substantially as described. I

12. The combination, with a suctionplpe, of the box or casing constructed oi. two or more central spaces and provided with the screened air-pasaagescaud a chute or fender suspended beneath each of said central spacers substantially as described.

13. The combination, with a suction-pipe, of the box or casing constructed of mm or more central spaces and provided with the convened air-passages and a chute or i'eodcr suspended beneath each of said. spaces and. adopted to be turned or swung to one oidc, substantially as shown, and for the purpocon described.

14. The combination, with time box: or com i log having the central spaces 5, oi c 'rnlvc or.

gate 30, adapted to close such spnce, unhcti'zir tially as described.

15. The combination, with the suspended. or hanging feeder, of a. pair of compression rollers arranged in in a compressed sheet or bat,substantiuliy describ p In toetii'nony whereof I have hereunto not my hand and affixed my seal in presence of two subscribing witnesscn.

STEPHEN D. MURRAY. {no} Witncscos:

M. G. STIRMAN, E. '1. LEWI8.

the self-adjusting springs for,

the, bottom thereof and adapted to feed the cotton directly therefrom 

